New civilian personnel training postponed until review complete

National Security Personnel System training for Department of Defense managers and rank-and-file employees is being postponed while a component of the new system is reviewed, an NSPS official said here today. "We've asked the services to put a hold on their training for January because we're

Wynne sees pride in Airmen during Southwest Asia visit

The secretary of the Air Force said he is proud and inspired by the Airmen he visited during his trip to Southwest Asia. "I met fabulous Airmen at each base," Secretary Michael W. Wynne said. "They were very dedicated and persistent in their desire to further the Air Force mission." Secretary Wynne

Civilian pay raises to take effect

The upcoming pay period for Defense Department civilian General Schedule employees will reflect a 2.1 percent across-the-board pay raise. It also includes a range of locality pays that bring the overall pay hikes between 2.83 and 5.62 percent, an Office of Personnel Management spokesman said. The

Aggressor squadron stands up at Nellis

The Air Force will reactivate the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 12. In a letter to Airmen, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, cited the history of the unit as “legendary” and said the aggressors will “directly contribute to the combat capability of our

Lackland officials release name of deceased Airman

Officials here have identified the Airman found dead in a base dormitory Jan. 2 as Senior Airman Austin Murphey, 22. Airman Murphey was a passenger service specialist with the 37th Logistics Readiness Squadron and had been assigned to Lackland since July 2005. Air Force officials are investigating

National Guard helps battle wildfires

National Guard crews continue to assist Oklahoma and Texas firefighters in dousing wildfires that have now burned more than 600,000 acres in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Texas Air National Guard crews helped firefighters battle a 22,000-acre blaze that threatened more than 200 homes near Carbon,

Airmen participate in Rose Bowl events

A B-1B Lancer kicked off the national college football title game Jan. 4 with a flyover of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Gen. Ronald Keys, commander of Air Combat Command and Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center here, represented the Air Force at several

Last Herc heads to new home

Life support is first step in saving lives

Terminal construction at Bagram

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the daily airpower summary. In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air-support missions Jan. 4 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to

President Bush thanks Pentagon troops for service

President George Bush greeted a handful of Airmen today after wrapping up discussion with top Department of Defense leaders about the war in Iraq. Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines lined a hallway near the Pentagon office of Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld for the meeting. Staff Sgt.

Postal service

Trip downrange

Graduation day

An explosive job

Djibouti training

Joint Chiefs examining differing combat tour lengths

The Joint Chiefs of Staff continue examining how long servicemembers should serve in Iraq, but for now they are satisfied the tour lengths are about right, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said. General Pace, who was flying back after leading a weeklong United Service Organization trip to the U.S. Central

California Guard to get the Predator

As part of ongoing Total Force initiatives, the Air Force, the National Guard Bureau and the Adjutant General of California announced today that the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Air Refueling Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., will become the home for a new MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial

Nomination season opening for top Guard, Reserve employer awards

Guard and Reserve members may recommend their employers to be recognized for supporting their military service when the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards nomination season opens next week. The nomination season last from Jan. 9 to Feb. 28. During last year's open season,

Lackland Airman found dead in dormitory

A senior airman with the 37th Logistics Readiness Squadron was found dead in a base dormitory Jan. 2. The Airman’s name is being withheld pending next of kin notification. Air Force officials are investigating the incident. 

Good eats means happy troops

An army marches on it stomach. Napoleon Bonaparte said, and believed, that in 1812. Truth is he might have been thinking more about the importance of a good supply line. But a visit to a military camp -- then or now -- would reveal that good eats and tasty treats are just as important to the troops.

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the daily airpower summary report. Coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air-support missions Jan. 3 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter

Presidential visit

Airmen ‘drop the ball’ on New Year’s Eve

With inspiration from New York -- the city that never sleeps -- Airmen at this desert base that never sleeps got to drop the ball this New Year’s Eve. In less than 72 hours, some 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron members constructed a New Year’s Eve Ball like the one dropped at New

Tire removal

Visiting with the troops

Keeping Predators flying helps keep Balad safe

Airmen who maintain the MQ-1 Predator here take great pride in ensuring the unmanned aerial vehicles they look after can keep and eagle eye on what goes on in Iraq. The 61 Airmen of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Unit -- and three Royal Air Force Airmen -- keep the Predators flying for the pilots who

Military, civilian medals approved for hurricane relief work

Servicemembers and civilians who took part in Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita relief efforts may be eligible for a medal. The director of the Joint Staff has approved awarding the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Armed Forces Service Medal for U.S. military personnel. Department of Defense

EQUAL listing available Jan. 10

The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for Airmen returning from overseas --and continental United States mandatory movers for May through July -- requirements will be available Jan. 10. Airmen need to work through their military personnel flights or commander's support staff to update their

For Reserve aircrew, New Year’s Eve over Iraq is routine

People around the globe welcomed 2006 with a variety of New Year’s Eve celebrations. High above Iraq, a Reserve C-130 Hercules aircrew headed for Balad Air Base, celebrated in a different way -- flying another mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. With the drone of the aircraft’s four

Kingpin helps manage airpower over Iraq

When Soldiers and Marines call in an air strike on an enemy position, the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron tracks the airplanes and allocates the airspace for the mission. The squadron, known as Kingpin, is a radar control and identification agency responsible for identifying all aircraft

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary report

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s combined airpower summary for Dec. 30 to Jan. 3. On Dec. 29, Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 30 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.3 million pounds of fuel. Coalition aircraft flew 54 close-air-support missions Dec. 30 for

Eagle maintainers

Gateway closes

Airmen continue Pakistan relief support

The Air Force continues to support Pakistan-led earthquake recovery operations by airlifting much-needed supplies into the devastated region.From Dec. 23 to 30, three C-130 Hercules aircraft flew in more than 41,000 pounds of food, water, medical supplies, aircraft parts and construction materials

Airmen help with Baby Noor evacuation

The C-130 Hercules aircraft here have routinely hauled more than one million troops and 76,000 tons of cargo in and out of Iraq. But today the mission was not routine. At about 4 p.m., a C-130 from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing touched down here carrying Baby Noor, her father and grandmother on

General brought a band (but could have flown solo)

Maybe it was Uncle Joe or Aunt Grace. Maybe it was just dad’s old Air Force buddy or mom’s best girlfriend. Everybody seems to have somebody who whizzes into their lives much too infrequently, makes them laugh, has them talking about anything in a matter of seconds, leaves too soon and always leaves

Top docs discuss future of military trauma medicine

The Department of Defense Combat Trauma Surgical Committee held their annual meeting here and the future of military trauma medicine was high on the agenda. The committee coordinates sustainable combat trauma surgery training programs and recommends tri-service policy changes to improve combat

Academy honors distinguished graduates

The Air Force Academy’s Association of Graduates announced the two recipients of its 2005 AOG Distinguished Graduate Award. Chosen were retired Gens. Hansford T. Johnson, Class of 1959, and Michael E. Ryan, Class of 1965. The award is given to academy graduates for a lifetime of service to the

Process speeds up IT acquisition

The Secretary of the Air Force implemented Information Technology Lean reengineering improvements slated for the information technology acquisition process last month. The Electronic Systems Center's Operations Support Systems Wing will begin to use the process immediately, with the Air Force-wide

Lab worker earns 4th degree black belt

To get her 4th degree black belt rank, Jolee AlVillar had to travel to South Korea and pass a test by a grandmaster in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. During the Air Force Research Laboratory employee’s 10-day visit, she earned Sa Dan certification and registrated at the Kukiwon World Taekwondo

Pace thanks troops for supporting war on terror

The U.S. military’s top-ranking officer visited U.S. and coalition troops in Southwest Asia to thank them for their contributions to the war on terror. Marine Gen. Peter Pace also treated the troops to a USO show and re-enlist three members during his Dec. 28 visit. General Pace kicked off a

CENTAF releases daily air power summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released today’s air power summary report. Coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air-support missions Dec. 29 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to

Finance center distributing year-end pay, tax statements

Servicemembers, military retirees and annuitants and federal civilian employees paid by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service can expect to receive their 2005 tax statements by mail soon, a DFAS official said. In fact, most retirees and annuitants already may have received theirs, with the last

Controllers keeping Iraqi skies safe

Another small dot drags a string of numbers with it as it hesitantly shuffles onto the screen. Now there are 30 dots with numbers. Airman 1st Class Grant Gers slips a strip of paper, no wider than a magazine and shorter than two end-to-end sugar packs, neatly but quickly enters the squawk (four of

Workin' things out

Wire service

DOD office helps military sexual assault victims

A new Defense Department organization is dedicated to address the needs of servicemembers who have been sexually assaulted, a senior official said here Dec. 22. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office is DoD's central point of accountability for sexual assault incidents, the office's

Chaplains: a spirit of service

Since the time of the American War for Independence, the value of supporting the spiritual part of military members through the service of chaplains has been recognized. Here in Southwest Asia, the men and women of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and coalition forces have the opportunity to

Airmen deploy with lighter load

A new mobility-bag process will now “lighten” the load of deployed members and save the Air Force money, too. The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing’s and two other locations are test sites for a new process to preposition mobility bags and chemical warfare defense equipment in the U.S. Central Command

Murray: Enlisted joint military education available

Joint professional military education will become a reality for enlisted Airmen throughout their careers. A new Department of Defense policy requires joint learning objectives in all enlisted levels. While the officer corps is mandated by law to include joint education, this policy specifically

2005: an Air Force year to remember

It’s going to be hard to forget 2005, with the war on terrorism, tsunami response, hurricanes and floods. But light did find its way through the darkness. Most memorable are the Airmen who lent a helping hand to those in desperate need. This year also brought new technology, a continued presence at

Live fire

CAMP BUCCA, Iraq (AFPN) -- Staff Sgt. Frank Woznick (right) checks the accuracy of .50-caliber machine gun fire by Senior Airman Jeffrey Polzin. The 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron troops were conducting a live-fire test here. The squadron is responsible for base defense, force

CENTAF releases daily air power summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s air power summary. Coalition aircraft flew 36 close-air-support missions Dec. 28 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and

Pakistan relief

CHAKALA AIR BASE, Pakistan (AFPN) -- U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry thanks Airmen for helping move tons of humanitarian relief supplies through this Pakistani base. Airmen arrived here to set up airlift operations just days after a devastating magnitude 7.6 earthquake devastated parts of this

'Top' performers

Hurricane hunters close out record season

The "Hurricane Hunters" of Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew their last mission of the record 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season in December. Squadron aircrews flew more than 145 missions into 25 storms and logged more than 1,500 flight hours. They did this while

Wynne: more integrated operations in Air Force’s future

The secretary of the Air Force said the service is headed toward more integrated operations. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne stopped at this airlift base Dec. 23 after trips to bases in Southwest Asia and Germany. He talked about the importance of force integration, new weapons platforms

Wilford Hall, Malcolm Grow earn DOD awards

Two Air Force medical centers earned Department of Defense Patient Safety Awards for their leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. Getting awards are the 59th Medical Wing’s patient safety office at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas,

Bagram A-10s take fight to enemy

A-10 Thunderbolt IIs continue taking the fight to the enemy by providing close air support to U.S. and coalition forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.  Shortly after deploying in September to this base at the foot of the Hindu Kush mountains from Davis-Monthan Air Base, Ariz., the

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary report

Coalition aircraft flew 36 close-air-support missions Dec. 27 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons performed an air strike

F-22A took long road to initial operational capability

With the F-22A Raptor's initial operational capability declaration Dec. 15 came the capstone of a process that began 76 months earlier, in August 1997, when a C-5 Galaxy landed here and taxied down the expansive "Contractor's Row" with several crates and boxes in its cargo bay for what is now known

Herc undergoes reconstructive surgery

After about a month of tender loving care performed by the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron's structural repair shop at a forward-deployed location, a C-130 Hercules is once again ready for flight. The C-130, from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and currently deployed to Manas Air Base,

Twins double up in desert

Twin Senior Airmen Levana Raum and Levina Sumang have been brought closer together by sharing their deployment experiences at a forward-deployed location. The sisters volunteered to deploy together so they could get an opportunity to catch up on quality time after once going their separate ways. “I

Routine commander’s call … sort of

Many bases have a commander’s call right before the holiday season to see everybody off safely and wish them a merry vacation. It was no different  here … except for how the information was delivered.The stage of the base theater looked like a late-night talk show, complete with a band, desk, couch,

Space group to activate new unit

Air Force Reserve Command’s 310th Space Group will travel deeper into the space program when it activates a new unit Jan. 7. Headquarters Reserve National Security Space Institute will be a Reserve associate unit to the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. The institute is

Implementation of BRAC begins this year

Now that the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure commission has approved, modified or disapproved the Office of the Secretary of Defense's recommendations for the 2005 round of base realignment and closure, the individual services must plan the implementation of those recommendations. The Air Force

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary report

Since Dec. 23, coalition aircraft have flown nearly 150 close-air-support missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-16 Fighting

Squadron breathes new life into old aircraft bodies

Back in 1973, the 1553 multiplex data bus was the wave of the future for military aircraft. It replaced bulky equipment in passing data between sensors, computers, indicators and other aircraft equipment. It reduced weigh and was simpler and more flexible. That was more than 30 years ago. The old

Chaplain and child

Spreading cheer

Standing watch

Muffler clamp

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- (Left to right) Staff Sgt. Don Gerhart and Staff Sgt. Darnell Roberts tighten a muffler clamp on a case backhoe. Both Airmen are deployed here to the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore)

Deployed Airman receives call from president

An Airman here received an unexpected early Christmas surprise when she received a call from the commander-in-chief Christmas Eve. Staff Sgt. Melina Russell, a security forces fire team leader, received that call at 4 p.m., when the White House switchboard put the president through to her. She had

Christmas stockings

Parents, children reunite for Christmas in Iraq

Two different families deployed at two different places in Iraq have reunited over Christmas. The first article, written by Sergeant Mitchell, is about a mother and son who made it a point to visit one another during Christmas even though they were stationed in different locations. The other,

DOD releases sexual harassment, assault reports

The Department of Defense today released the results of two reports on sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military: the 2004 survey of the reserve components and the Academic Program Year 2005 assessment at the three military service academies. Reserve components: The survey of about 76,000

Vandenberg activates Area Control Center

The 30th Space Wing activated the first major center in the new Western Range Operations Control Center Dec 15. The WROCC will be used for command and control of all Vandenberg launches and to oversee the Western Range, an area that encompasses the west coast of the continental United States and

Air Force, Army team to care for Iraqi patients

The 447th Air Expeditionary Group has teamed with members of the 48th Brigade Combat Team and Charlie Company, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, to provide medical care near the Radwaniya Civil Military Operations Center. Soldiers constructed the clinic by refurbishing an existing building. The clinic

Pope Airman thanks Cookie Lady for desserts in desert

Senior Airman Natalie Sanchez never imagined a care package she received last year while deployed to Iraq would lead to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Airman Sanchez, 43rd Communications Squadron who was deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, received a surprise in the mail when a care

CAOC memorializes Airman’s sacrifice

A New York Airman, who was killed when responding to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center, was honored Dec. 22 when the Combined Air Operations Center entry control point was rededicated in his honor. After the closing of the old CAOC entry point Dec. 9, the rededication of the new

EOD technicians busiest outside of Iraq

With more than 1,200 man-hours spent on reportable incidents and destroying 595 unexploded bomblets, mortars and various other threats, the wing here has the busiest explosive ordnance flight outside of Iraq, said explosive ordnance disposal flight chief Master Sgt. Chris Schott. “The (first Gulf)

Oklahoma Reservists producing Christmas miracles

Within days of Christmas, a small group of Air Force Reservists are producing holiday miracles for those less fortunate. Members of the 507th Air Refueling Wing and 513th Air Control Group have again stepped forward to raise food, clothing and more than $10,000 during their traditional Operation

Red Horse team maintains smooth operations in, out of Kandahar

A team of about 20 Red Horse civil engineers from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., are doing their part to keep flights coming in and out of here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As part of a $7 million construction project, warfighters can expect to see more than 150,000 square feet of

New medical staging facility opened

The new 332nd Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility opened Dec. 19 and will serve as a transition point for medical evacuations from Iraq. Construction on the $850,000 building began in September. "With the move into this new semi-hardened facility, we are continuing to improve the care we

Deployed captain trains to bring home the gold

In his “day job,” among many other things, Capt. James Parker brings entertainment “home” for those deployed to this desert air base. At the end of many a duty day, the captain can be found out in the middle of a sandy expanse, practicing to bring something else home for his country -- an Olympic

AWACS mission: Track Santa

Members of the 552nd Air Control Wing will provide support to one of the North Pole's most notable residents this year -- Santa and his team of flying reindeer. Slightly before midnight on Christmas Eve, an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control systems aircraft and crew will leave here on one of

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions Dec. 22 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-15 Eagles provided close air support to

Airmen continue Pakistan relief effort

The Air Force continues to support Pakistan-led earthquake recovery operations by airlifting much-needed supplies into the devastated region. Two Air Force C-130 Hercules and one C-17 Globemaster III delivered 61,000 pounds of water, medical supplies and vehicle parts and supplies in response to

If you can't stand the heat...

Airmen dedicates time to fight crime

For one Airman here, protecting and defending all enemies foreign and domestic is something he takes to heart. Tech. Sgt. Tim Allen of the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, is a volunteer constable in South Carolina. In South Carolina, a constable is a law enforcement officer commissioned by

Sega: Integration key for space operations

The under secretary of the Air Force and executive agent for space, Dr. Ronald M. Sega, sees space-based platforms continuing to be a vital asset to our nation’s military forces.He is looking to get back to the basics on space acquisitions, while aiming for increased integration of individual space

NORAD observes 50th anniversary of tracking Santa

The North American Aerospace Defense Command is observing its 50th anniversary of tracking Santa Claus on his annual rounds, NORAD officials here said. The tradition of tracking Santa began in 1955, when a local Sears, Roebuck and Co. store ran a newspaper ad urging children to make a phone call on

Firefighters ready for anything

When many deployed Airmen receive a tasking, they normally have a day or even a week to complete it. For one group of Airmen, their deadline is only minutes, and it could be the difference between life and death. The responsibility of the men and women of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer

Employees show generosity through Angel Tree program

For the 10th consecutive year, members of the Air Reserve Personnel Center and Defense Finance and Accounting Service at Buckley Annex here came together and participated in the Angel Tree program which netted more than 100 toys for local charities. There were two Angel Trees set up in the centers.

Schriever family members ‘deploy’ to fitness center

About 60 Airmen and family members came to the base’s main fitness center recently for a three-hour “deployment.” Children moved through a processing line and received necklaces, certificates and hand-pressed buttons. Some went into the racquetball court to practice their marksmanship on skee-ball

Chief of chaplains sends holiday message

The following is a holiday message from Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin:"On behalf of chaplains and chaplain assistants everywhere, I extend holiday greetings to all our fellow Airmen and their families. My heart is warmed as I witness firsthand the selfless sacrifices you make every day for

Here we go a caroling...

Santa visits Ecuador